The latest novel in the grydscaen series entitled grydscaen: dark has a new project happening. Working with a fabulous artist who is bringing the dark characters to life we are looking to have concept art for all the main characters in grydscaen: dark from the gothic Jester, and techno fetishist Jazz, to Faid the Packrat hacker leader, Raven the Psi Faction government operative, and finally Rom, the teenage Level 9 hacker. With three more drawings in the series to finish the set.
Jester the gothic hacker and leader
of the Jester hacker guild
Jazz, the techno fetishist jet jockey trail,
leader of the Soul Deep and Jazz hacker guild
Faid Callen, the host, Runner
and leader of the Packrat hackers
Raven Allen the cyber security analyst
and government clandestine operative
TBD
Rom the homeless Level 9 hacker
The process for working with the artist is simple. Natsuya provides an episode of the web series grydscaen: darkness which introduces the artist to the characters in grydscaen: dark along with some draft artwork done by Natsuya to give the artist the lay of the land and a feel for the characters. Letting the artist have free rein creatively, the background materials help paint a picture of each of the characters. As the work starts, the back and forth between the artist and writer happens as the characters are flushed out and sketches done. One the sketch is approved it is onto finalization and colouring which the artist has free reign.
Natsuya provided prototype artwork from the grydsacen RPG trading card game of Jester and Jazz to the artist which were used to help flush out the concept for the artist. Below are the trading card prototypes that were provided from the trading card and tarot deck.
Once the concept art is finished it gives the writer a vision into the characters which in turn sometimes influences the writing. Natsuya honed Jazz’ dialogue once the concept art for that character was done and it is influenced starting in episode 3 of the darkness series. Removing words and making dialogue more hard and curt, Jazz’ way of speaking changed based on influence from the artwork. Jester on the other hand stayed the same. The Jester character as the first in the set more material was provided then for Jazz. As Natsuya had a specific vision of Jester it was important to get it right so extra materials were provided and it was also the first project done with the artist.
The later characters which will also get art Faid and Rom already have concept art created by Natsuya. Faid has his signature red hair in his Packrat Runner’s outfit from the trading card in the grydsacen RPG prototype game and Rom has his signature tan trench coat and headphones as well as anti-radiation mask which is pictured on the cover of grydsacen: dark.
Faid the Packrat hacker leader
Rom the Level 9 hacker
With Natsuya’s concept art already available, this will be a new dynamic for the artist who will create the images for the series. And Rom also has fan art that has been done. One of the fanart of Rom has his hands in his pocket which was written into grydscaen: dark once that artwork came in, influencing one of the character’s signature moves which was written specifically into an emotional scene where Rom is seen anxious and depressed.
Little things that come out in the artwork can have a profound impact on how the characters are written and help to give Natsuya new ideas influenced how other people see his characters.
Hopefully finishing the concept series in the next month with the three new drawings, we will continue on with the grydscaen: darkness web series which is available on the grydscaen blog as a free read. Check back when all the artwork is in and we will update this page once the project is complete. The grydscaen: darkness web series currently has eight episodes that are shared weekly online with the Queer SciFi Monday promotion. Check out the blog right here on this website for all the episodes.
copyright (c) 2018, Natsuya Uesugi